Apparatus for an amusement ride and fall

ABSTRACT

An amusement ride and fall apparatus includes a track having a discharge point below which there is a substantial drop. A passenger is propelled along the track to the discharge point and discharged therefrom with a horizontal component of motion. The passenger then free falls. An elastic tie having a second first end and free second end connected directly or indirectly to the passenger limits the free fall and, together with the horizontal component of motion imparted to the passenger, causes the passenger to swing and bounce for a period of time at the end of the free fall. At the end of the ride and fall the passenger is released safely. The invention therefore provides a trill similar to that of a bungee jump but with enhancements.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention provides an apparatus for an amusement rideand fall. The apparatus comprises a track having a discharge point,which may be at an end of the track, the track being positioned toprovide a drop and preferably a substantial drop below the dischargepoint. In use of the apparatus, a thrill seeking passenger firstexperiences a ride by being propelled along the track to the dischargepoint. The passenger is discharged from the discharge point of the trackwith a horizontal component of motion. The passenger then experiences afree fall. An elastic tie having a secured first end and a free secondend connected directly or indirectly to the passenger limits the freefall and, together with the horizontal component of motion imparted tothe passenger, causes the passenger to swing and bounce for a period oftime at the end of the free fall. At the end of the ride and fall thepassenger is released safely. The invention therefore provides a thrillsimilar to that of a bungy jump but with enhancements.

[0003] 2. Background Art

[0004] Bungy jumping is now a well known activity. A typical bungyjumping apparatus comprises an elevated platform and an elastic bungycord. At or towards one of its ends the bungy cord is attached to theplatform. The free end of the bungy cord is attached to the jumper,usually by way of a collar secured just above the ankles of the jumper.The length of the bungy cord between its attachment to the platform andits free end is chosen according to the characteristics of the bungycord, the distance of the drop below the platform and the weight of thejumper. The jumper steps, jumps or dives off the platform to free falluntil that initial free fall is brought to an end by the action of thebungy cord which causes the jumper to bounce up and down in an upsidedown position for a period of time, at the end of which the bungy cordis usually paid out from the platform to lower the jumper gently to theground where the jumper is released. An example of a bungy jumpingapparatus is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,448.

[0005] The free fall of the jumper from the platform is mostly avertical fall. There is little by way of a horizontal component ofmotion in the fall. What horizontal component of motion there is usuallyprovided by the jumper jumping or diving outwardly from the platform atthe start of the fall. If a horizontal component of motion is includedin the initial free fall then in addition to experiencing a bouncing atthe end of the fall the jumper also experiences a swinging motion. Withpresent bungy jumping apparatus, the degree of swinging motion that canbe experienced by the jumper is relatively small.

[0006] Bungy cords are used in other types of thrill seeking amusementapparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,421,783 describes a human slingshotapparatus. The apparatus consists of two elevated towers, a carrierbetween the towers and two bungy cords, each bungy cord connecting thecarrier to the top of a respective one of the towers. A rider isstrapped into the carrier when it is secured to the ground and the bungycords are stretched with a tensioning mechanism. When the carrier isreleased it, with the strapped in rider, is shot up into the airfollowing which it bounces up and down a few times before being loweredto the ground for release of the rider. A similar apparatus is describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,810,671 except that the apparatus includes guiderails which cooperate with the carrier or chair assembly so that uponrelease of the chair assembly from its release position it is guidedalong a preselected path for at least a short period of time beforebeing thrown from the guide rails up into the air.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,649,866 describes an amusement ride systemincluding a chair assembly for a rider and three towers attached to theground in a spaced and triangular relationship. Bungy cords extend fromthe chair assembly to the tops of first and second towers. Means areprovided for tensioning the bungy cords to a stretched position. A pullcable is releasably joined to the back of the chair assembly from thetop of the third tower.

[0008] As the bungy cords are being stretched the chair assembly islifted from the ground and the pull cable pulls the chair assembly to aposition adjacent the top of the third tower. On release of the pullcable, the bungy cords throw the chair assembly along a substantiallyhorizontal path extending from the third tower and passing between thefirst and second towers. Thus, the rider experiences mostly a back andforth horizontal motion.

[0009] Bungy cords are also used to provide an essentially horizontalmotion in the amusement ride described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,321. Apair of side-by-side track assemblies are provided and each trackassembly has a wheeled vehicle for a rider, which vehicle simulates adragster and is mounted for movement along the track. Bungy cords areused to accelerate each vehicle along its track. At the other end of thetrack bungy cords are also used to decelerate the vehicle, and may alsobe used to accelerate the vehicle back to towards the first end of thetrack.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,853,331 describes an amusement ride comprising awheeled vehicle for riders that is adapted to descend an inclined trackhaving an upwardly curved launching portion, in a manner to launch thevehicle temporarily airborne in a trajectory similar to that of a skijumper. The vehicle is rollingly connected by tethers to a pair of guywires positioned on either side of the track and at a level relative tothe track launch area to permit the vehicle to be launched temporarilyairborne and to fall freely for a brief period without interference orrestriction by the tethers. As the vehicle falls, the ethers become tautwith the guy wires and terminate the free fall of the vehicle. Thevehicle then glides along a predetermined descent down the guy wirestowards twin laterally spaced towers at the end of the ride, each guywire being connected to a respective one of the towers. This amusementride therefore provides one or more persons with a ride on a vehicledown an inclined track to an upwardly curved launching portion fromwhich the vehicle is launched into the air in a trajectory similar tothat of a ski jumper. After a short period of free fall the guy wires towhich the vehicle is tethered terminate the free fall and cause thevehicle to glide down the guy wires to the end of the ride. At thelaunching of the vehicle from the track, the vehicle does have asubstantial degree of horizontal motion. That is followed by a shortperiod of free fall. However, at the end of that period the vehicleglides down the guy wires. While the ride is no doubt exciting for anyrider, it misses significant elements of excitement that are associatedwith a bungy jump. In particular, there is no substantial period of freefall as there is in a bungy jump. Neither is there any significantbouncing up and down at the end of the free fall as there is in a bungyjump. Furthermore, even though the vehicle does have a substantialdegree of horizontal motion at launch, that motion is not utilised toprovide a swinging sensation for the rider of the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is an object of the invention to provide a novel amusementride for thrill seekers, which includes a free fall in the manner of abungy jump, which free fall terminates with a vertical bouncing of therider coupled with a swinging motion.

[0012] In a first aspect, the present invention broadly consists in anapparatus for an amusement ride and fall, the apparatus comprising:

[0013] a track having a discharge point, the track being positioned toprovide a drop below the discharge point;

[0014] a carriage for a passenger which can be conveyed along the tracktoward the discharge point;

[0015] propelling means for propelling the carriage along the tracktowards the discharge point;

[0016] means to prevent the carriage from being discharged from thetrack at the discharge point;

[0017] decelerating means to impart a horizontal component ofdeceleration to the carriage at/or immediately before the dischargepoint whereby upon the carriage being given a sufficiently rapidhorizontal component of deceleration by the decelerating means thepassenger separates from the carriage to be discharged with a horizontalcomponent of motion from the discharge point of the track to drop in afree fall therefrom; and

[0018] an elastic tie having a secured first end and a free second enddirectly or indirectly connected or connectable to the passenger, whichtie limits the free fall of the connected passenger and, together withthe horizontal component of motion imparted to the passenger, causes thepassenger to bounce and swing for a period of time at the end of thefree fall.

[0019] According to one embodiment falling within this aspect of theinvention, the track may comprise a chute or slide along which thepassenger can slide on the carriage. In this case, the carriage maycomprise a sled designed to slide along the track. To stabilise themotion of the sled along the track, the track may have grooves in whichrunners of the sled run to keep the sled aligned with the track.Alternatively, this may be achieved by having the track in the form of arail or rails with which the sled is slidably engaged.

[0020] More preferably, the carriage may instead comprise a wheeledvehicle upon which one or more passengers can ride. In this case thetrack is preferably provided with rails with which the wheels of thevehicle engage to keep the vehicle aligned with the track.

[0021] In a second and preferred aspect of the invention, the apparatusfurther comprises a conveyance for the passenger, which conveyance ismountable on and separable from the carriage whereby the conveyance canbe conveyed along the track on the carriage and upon the carriage beinggiven a sufficiently rapid horizontal component of deceleration by thedecelerating means the conveyance and the passenger separate from thecarriage to be discharged with a horizontal component of motion from thedischarge point to drop in a free fall therefrom.

[0022] The apparatus may include securing means for securing thepassenger to the conveyance. In this case, the free second end of theelastic tie may be connected or connectable to either the passenger orto the conveyance.

[0023] When the passenger is secured to the conveyance and the free endof the elastic tie is connected to the conveyance, the conveyance may beselected from the group consisting of a sheet of material, a mat, acushion, and a sled, but this conveyance, and the attachments of thepassenger and of the elastic tie to it, would have to be strong enoughto resist the forces imposed at the end of the free fall and thoseassociated with the consequential bouncing and swinging of theconveyance and passenger.

[0024] When the passenger is not secured to the conveyance or theconveyance is the passenger's own clothing, the free end of the elastictie is connected or connectable to the passenger. The conveyance mayalternatively be selected from the group consisting of a sheet ofmaterial, a mat, a cushion, and a sled. If a mat or cushion is used, itmay be allowed to fall freely from the discharge point of the track andrecovered later. If the mat or cushion is relatively soft there is noharm in letting it fall from the track. Alternatively, a tie (other thanthe elastic tie which is connected to the passenger) may connect the mator cushion to the track or some part adjacent the track whereby the mator cushion can be hauled back up to the track after use. If a sled isused, it is preferably light in weight and is preferably attached to thepassenger to prevent it from free falling separately and therebypreventing any risk of it striking the free falling passenger.

[0025] The elastic tie in any embodiment of the invention, may compriseone or more bungy cords. Any elastic tie may be joined end to end with anon-elastic tie if necessary to increase the length of the tie withoutincreasing the degree to which it will stretch. This may be necessary insome situations to prevent a tie having an excessive degree of stretchwhich could have a passenger or passengers and conveyance plunge intothe ground at full stretch. The term “elastic tie” is intended toinclude such a combined tie.

[0026] In a third aspect, the present invention broadly consists in anapparatus for an amusement ride and fall, the apparatus comprising:

[0027] a track having a discharge point, the track being positioned toprovide a drop below the discharge point;

[0028] a carriage which can be carried along the track towards thedischarge point of the track; propelling means for propelling thecarriage along the track towards the discharge point;

[0029] a stop to stop the carriage from being discharged from thedischarge point of the track;

[0030] a conveyance for a passenger, which conveyance is mountable onand separable from the carriage whereby the conveyance can be conveyedalong the track on the carriage and upon the carriage being stopped bythe stop the conveyance separates from the carriage to be dischargedwith a horizontal component of motion from the discharge point of thetrack to drop in a free fall therefrom;

[0031] securing means for securing the passenger to the conveyance;

[0032] an elastic tie having a secured first end and a free second endconnected to the conveyance, which tie limits the free fall of theconveyance and, together with the horizontal component of motionimparted to the conveyance, causes the conveyance to bounce and swingfor a period of time at the end of its free fall.

[0033] According to this aspect of the invention, a conveyance which ispreferably a relatively light weight conveyance for a passenger ismountable on but separable from a carriage. The elastic tie is attachedto the conveyance and one or more passengers are secured to theconveyance. The carriage which, for example, may be a sled or a wheeledvehicle as described above, does not leave the track. It is brought to arelatively sudden stop at the discharge point of the track and theconveyance with the one or more passengers is thrown forward from thecarriage to commence the free fall. With this embodiment the elastic tiemust take the forces imposed by the weight of the one or more passengersand the conveyance, but the weight of the carriage does not impose anyforce upon the elastic tie. The secured end of the elastic tie ispreferably secured to the carriage so that up to the discharge of theconveyance from the carriage the whole of the elastic tie may be carriedon the carriage. Alternatively, the tie is secured to the structuresupporting the track or to some other fixed point adjacent the track.

[0034] In a fourth aspect, the present invention broadly consists in anapparatus for an amusement ride and fall, the apparatus comprising:

[0035] a track having a discharge point, the track being positioned toprovide a drop below the discharge point;

[0036] a carriage which can be carried along the track towards thedischarge point of the track;

[0037] propelling means for propelling the carriage along the tracktowards the discharge point;

[0038] means to prevent the carriage from being discharged from thetrack at the discharge point;

[0039] decelerating means to impart a horizontal component ofdeceleration to the carriage at/or immediately before the dischargepoint;

[0040] a conveyance for a passenger, which conveyance is mountable onand separable from the carriage whereby the conveyance can be conveyedalong the track on the carriage and upon the carriage being given asufficiently rapid horizontal component of deceleration by thedecelerating means the conveyance separates from the carriage to bedischarged with a horizontal component of motion from the dischargepoint of the track to drop in a free fall therefrom;

[0041] securing means for securing the passenger to the conveyance; and

[0042] an elastic tie having a secured first end and a free second endconnected or connectable to the conveyance, which tie limits the freefall of the connected conveyance and, together with the horizontalcomponent of motion imparted to the conveyance, causes the conveyance tobounce and swing for a period of time at the end of its free fall.

[0043] This aspect of the invention includes the previously mentionedthird aspect of the invention within its scope. In that case, thedecelerating means to impart a horizontal component of deceleration tothe carriage at/or immediately before the the discharge point is thestop. However, whereas a stop causes an abrupt deceleration of thecarriage, other decelerating means may be used to cause a less abruptdeceleration of the carriage without compromising the discharge of theconveyance from the carriage. A less abrupt deceleration of the carriagemay be less damaging to the carriage and improve its life expectancy.

[0044] As for some of the aspects of the invention already discussed,the track may comprise a chute or slide along which the carriagecarrying the conveyance and passenger can slide. In this case, thecarriage may comprise a sled, the track preferably having grooves inwhich runners of the sled run to keep the sled aligned with the track.Preferably, however, the carriage comprises a wheeled vehicle and thetrack preferably comprises a rail or rails with which the wheels of thevehicle engage to keep the vehicle aligned with the track. The trackpreferably comprises two parallel rails.

[0045] According to this aspect of the invention, the conveyance may bea sheet of material, a mat or a cushion, but is preferably a sled likeconveyance or a capsule designed to slide or roll on the carriage, thecarriage having grooves in which runners or wheels of the conveyance runto keep it aligned with the carriage and hence with the track as itseparates from the carriage to be discharged from the track. Means arepreferably provided to prevent the conveyance inadvertently detachingfrom the carriage before its intended discharge.

[0046] Immediately before the discharge point, the track is disposed atan angle providing a substantial degree of horizontal motion to thecarriage and therefore to the conveyance and passenger thereon.Preferably, the track, immediately before the discharge point, is eithersubstantially horizontal or curves upwardly somewhat in the manner of aski jump.

[0047] The option of the decelerating means being a stop, as for thethird aspect of the invention, has been mentioned already. However, amore preferred decelerating means comprises a sufficiently sharpdownwards curve in the track at the discharge point whereby as thecarriage passes around the curve its sudden change of direction causes asufficient horizontal component of deceleration to enable the dischargeof the conveyance. In this embodiment, the curve in the track preferablycontinues around to a return portion of the track. This means that afterpassing around the curve the carriage is at least initially in an upsidedown position on the return portion of the track. The return portion ofthe track may therefore have righting means to turn the carriage rightside up again, the righting means comprising, for example, a twistedsection in the return portion of the track whereby the carriage isrighted again as it passes through the twisted section.

[0048] A conveyance recovery means may be associated with the returnportion of the track so that the discharged and fallen conveyance can beraised to the return portion of the track to be re-mounted on thecarriage.

[0049] According to at least this aspect of the invention, the apparatuspreferably comprises motive means associated with the track whereby themotive means can or does interact with the carriage to enable thecarriage to be moved in a controlled way along at least a portion of thetrack. There may be a plurality of motive means associated withdifferent portions of the track. For example, there may be a startmotive means at a start portion of the track to initiate movement of thecarriage along the track. This start motive means may comprise the wholeor part of the propelling means. There may also be a decelerating motivemeans in the region of the discharge point of the track, whichdecelerating motive means may provide or be part of said deceleratingmeans for enabling the conveyance to be discharged from the conveyanceand hence from the track. In other words, the decelerating means may beprovided by the decelerating motive means and/or by a sharp downwardscurve in the track at the discharge point as mentioned above. There mayalso be a recovering motive means to return the carriage to the startingarea of the track.

[0050] The track, particularly when it comprises rails for a wheeledcarriage, preferably comprises a continuous loop. This makes it suitablefor use by a plurality of carriages at the same time for the carriagesmove in the one direction about the loop track.

[0051] In a fifth aspect, the present invention broadly consists in anapparatus for an amusement ride and fall, the apparatus comprising:

[0052] a track having a discharge point, the track being positioned toprovide a drop below the discharge point;

[0053] a carriage which can be carried along the track towards thedischarge point of the track;

[0054] propelling means for propelling the carriage along the tracktowards the discharge point;

[0055] means to prevent the carriage from being discharged from thetrack at the discharge point;

[0056] decelerating means to impart a horizontal component ofdeceleration to the carriage and/or immediately before the dischargepoint;

[0057] a conveyance for a passenger, which conveyance is mountable onand separable from the carriage whereby the conveyance can be conveyedalong the track on the carriage and upon the carriage being given asufficiently rapid horizontal component of deceleration by thedecelerating means the conveyance with the passenger separates from thecarriage to be discharged with a horizontal component of motion from thedischarge point of the track to drop in a free fall therefrom;

[0058] optionally, securing means for securing the passenger to theconveyance; and

[0059] an elastic tie having a secured first end and a free second endconnected or connectable to the passenger, which tie limits the freefall of the connected passenger and, together with the horizontalcomponent of motion imparted to the conveyance, causes the passenger tobounce and swing for a period of time at the end of its free fall.

[0060] This aspect of the invention is similar to the fourth aspect butdiffers in that the tie is connected or connectable directly to thepassenger rather than to the conveyance. This means that upon dischargeof the conveyance and passenger from the carriage, the conveyance fallsfreely. The conveyance should therefore be made of a material ormaterials such as to minimise any risk of injury to the passenger as theconveyance and passenger free fall separately but relatively close toeach other.

[0061] For any aspect of the invention utilizing a conveyance andespecially one to which the passenger is secured, the conveyance maysupport the passenger in a generally upright sitting position throughoutthe ride and the fall and even throughout the bouncing and swinging atthe end of the fall.

[0062] For any aspect of the invention the drop below the dischargepoint of the track is preferably a substantial drop, for example, atleast a 40 m drop. While the drop may be less, it is preferably greater.

[0063] For any aspect of the invention, it is preferred that at least asection of the track has an incline downwards towards the dischargepoint of the track. In this case, the inclined section may provide thepropelling means. Where the apparatus has a start motive means, this andthe downwardly inclined section of the track may together provide thepropelling means. Where the track does not have an inclined orsufficiently inclined section to provide the propelling means, the startmotive means alone may provide the propelling means.

[0064] As already indicated, the discharge point of the track may besubstantially horizontal or may be disposed at other angles as long asit provides a degree of horizontal motion to a passenger or conveyancedischarged from that end of the track. Overall, the track may resemblethat of a ski jump in a manner similar to that of U.S. Pat. No.5,853,331.

[0065] For more thrilling effects, the track may have at least onesubstantially vertical loop in it and/or at least one substantiallytransverse loop in it. At least one section of the track may passthrough a tunnel. In this case there is preferably a tunnel locatedimmediately before the discharge point of the track.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0066] Some embodiments of the invention will be described withreference to the following drawings, in which:

[0067]FIG. 1 shows, in schematic form a side view of a possible track;

[0068]FIG. 2 shows a side view of a possible carriage and conveyancecarrying a passenger arriving at the discharge point of the track;

[0069]FIG. 3 shows a side view illustrating a general concept of apreferred embodiment of the invention where the track comprises acontinuous loop;

[0070]FIG. 4 shows an enlarged side view of the start section of thepreferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the start section being where theride begins;

[0071]FIG. 5 shows an enlarged side view in the region of the dischargepoint of the track of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3, thisbeing the region where deceleration of the carriage, release of theconveyance and inversion and righting of the carriage occur;

[0072]FIG. 6 shows an enlarged side view of the recovery, reload andreturn station of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3;

[0073]FIG. 7 shows an enlarged side view of the return, preparation andchecking station of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 3;

[0074]FIG. 8 shows a side view of a carriage and conveyance suitable foruse with the embodiment of FIG. 3 and illustrating a preferredconveyance release mechanism;

[0075]FIG. 9 shows to an enlarged scale a side view illustrating thepreferred conveyance release mechanism in greater detail;

[0076]FIG. 10 shows a rear view of the carriage and conveyance shown inFIG. 8; and

[0077]FIG. 11 shows, in schematic form, a side view of anotherembodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0078]FIG. 1 shows a track 10 built on a hillside 12 at the edge of acliff 14. The track has a horizontal upper section 16, a long downwardlyinclined middle section 18 and another substantially horizontal section19 approaching the discharge point 20 of the track. The track issupported by poles 22 and braces 24, only some of which are shown in theschematic view. Making use of natural terrain such as a hillside andcliff in some ways simplifies the construction of the track. A tallbuilding can be used in place of a hillside and cliff.

[0079] It can be imagined that construction of a similar track on levelground would require the track to be built at a much greater elevationabove the ground in order to provide an adequate drop below thedischarge point of the track for a bungy jump type fall.

[0080] The track 10 shows in FIG. 1 has two enhancements. Firstly it hasa substantially vertical loop 26 towards the lower end of the inclinedsection 18 of the track. Secondly it has a tunnel 28 at the dischargepoint of the track, though the tunnel or other tunnels may be placedelsewhere along the track.

[0081] In this embodiment, the track 10 comprises a pair of parallelrails 30, one of which is shown in FIG. 2. The apparatus includes acarriage 32 designed to run along the track. At each side of thecarriage it has a pair of flanged wheels 34 which engage with and runalong a respective rail. The carriage should not inadvertently leave thetrack. The carriage may therefore engage with the track or, moreparticularly, its wheels may engage with the rails, in a similar manneras the carriages of a roller coaster do to their track so as to preventthe carriage from jumping from its rails and falling from the track. Onepossibility is for each rail to have an outwardly directed lateralflange along its length spaced above the deck on which the rails aremounted and for the carriage to have a depending inwardly directedL-shaped bracket at each side, a free end flange of which locates underbut is not connected to the lateral flange of a respective rail toprevent the carriage jumping from the track.

[0082] At its front end, the carriage has a bumper 36. When the carriagereaches the discharge point 20 of the track the bumper strikes the pad38 of a stop in the form of a shock absorber 40 mounted at the dischargepoint of the track. The shock absorber brings the carriage to a rapidstop, preferably without damaging the carriage.

[0083] A conveyance 42 is releasably mounted on the carriage 32. In theschematic drawing of FIG. 2, the conveyance is shaped as a somewhatsled-like recliner, having a base 44, a footrest 46 at one end of thebase, a backrest 48 at the other end of the base and a headrest 50. Apassenger 52 is shown sitting in the conveyance in a generally uprightsitting position. The passenger is secured to the conveyance by a cheststrap 54 and, optionally, by a waist strap 56 and an ankle strap 58. Asan added safety feature, the passenger shown is wearing a helmet 60.

[0084] The conveyance 42 is normally mounted on the carriage 32 in amanner such that the conveyance cannot inadvertently separate from thecarriage. For example, the carriage may have one or more catches (notshown) which engage the base 44 of the conveyance. However, when thecarriage impacts against the shock absorber 40 at the discharge point 20of the track and comes to a relatively sudden stop it is intended thatthe conveyance 42 and its passenger 52 be thrown forwardly from thecarriage and off the discharge point of the track to commence their freefall. In FIG. 2, a conveyance release member 62 projects upwardly frombetween the rails 30 to strike a trigger 64 on the underside of thecarriage just before the carriage strikes the shock absorber. Theactuation of the trigger releases the catch or catches holding theconveyance to the carriage so that when the carriage stops suddenly themomentum of the conveyance and passenger carries them forward off thecarriage and over the end of the track. The movement of the conveyanceon the carriage can be facilitated by the conveyance having small wheelsriding on rails or in grooves on the deck of the carriage, or viceversa.

[0085] At the back of the carriage there are brackets 66 carrying a reel68 on which an appropriate length of an elastic tie such as a bungy cord70 is wound. One end of the bungy cord is secured to the reel whereasthe other free end is secured to a bracket 72 on the back of theconveyance 42. The reels may be interchangeable so that a reel having alength of bungy cord appropriate for the weight of the passenger can befitted to the carriage before the ride commences. The reel may beslightly braked to prevent it over spinning as the bungy cord reels outwhen the conveyance and passenger are in free fall. The reel may also beprovided with a removable handle (not shown) or even a suitable motor(not shown) so that the bungy cord can be reeled back in after theconclusion of a ride.

[0086] The ride commences at the horizontal upper section 16 of thetrack. The carriage is braked or otherwise held so that it cannot runaway inadvertently. The passenger is weighed, a reel with an appropriatelength of bungy cord is mounted to the bracket 66 of the carriage andconnected to the conveyance 42 and the rider climbs into the conveyanceand is strapped firmly in place. When all is ready, the brakes arereleased and the carriage given a push to commence its run down thetrack. Gravitational force acting on the carriage, conveyance andpassenger as they travel down the inclined middle section 18 of thetrack propels the carriage to a speed where, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, the carriage can hurtle around the substantially vertical loop26 before entering the tunnel 28. The shock absorber 40 is located atthe exit of the tunnel so that the passenger has the sense of being shotfrom a barrel into space before the commencement of the free fall.Because the conveyance and passenger leave the suddenly stopped carriagewith a horizontal motion, the free fall follows a parabolic path. Whenthe bungy cord is fully unwound it begins stretching and graduallybrings the initial free fall to an end. However, there is then a periodduring which the conveyance and passenger bounce up and down on the endof the bungy cord. Furthermore, because they were discharged from thetrack with a horizontal motion this causes them to swing at the end ofthe bungy cord at the same time as being bounced up and down. Thereobviously should be enough clearance at the bottom of the cliff orwhatever below the discharge point of the track to allow for thisswinging without the conveyance and its passenger striking any object.Alternatively, there may be elastic cords or a safety net at the foot ofthe cliff to prevent the conveyance and passenger from swinging into thecliff.

[0087] With the bracket 72 located on the conveyance as shown in FIG. 2,the tightening of the bungy cord at the end of the free fall causes thepassenger to face downwardly during the bouncing and swinging phase. Ina preferred embodiment the bracket is located higher up the conveyancetowards the headrest or is attached to the headrest so that thepassenger remains orientated in a generally upright position even duringthe bouncing and swinging at the end of the initial free fall.

[0088] When the bouncing and swinging of the conveyance and passenger atthe end of the bungy cord have reduced in magnitude sufficiently, acable connected to the secured end of the bungy cord on the reel 68 maybe unwound so as to lower the conveyance and its passenger gently to theground where the passenger can be released. The cable and bungy cord maythen be would again on the reel to pull the conveyance back up the trackso that it can be mounted again on the carriage. Alternatively, thepassenger may be pulled back up with the conveyance and possiblereleased at a platform just below the discharge point of the track. Inanother embodiment for conveyance can be detached before the bungy cordis reeled in and another conveyance placed on the carriage with thefirst conveyance being brought up again later. Finally, the carriage isreturned to the upper horizontal section 16 of the track. A cable andwinch can be used for that purpose, the cable free end being releasablycoupled to the connector 74 on the back of the carriage.

[0089] The above has described one possible embodiment of the presentinvention and has indicated some possible modifications in otherembodiments. However, numerous other embodiments of the invention can beprovided and numerous other modifications can be made to each embodimentwithout departing from the scope of the invention as has been broadlydefined.

[0090] The track could be built on generally level ground but to aheight to provide for a reasonable fall. The height for a reasonablefall could be achieved by building the track on top of a building withthe fall being over the side of the building.

[0091] The upper end of the track need not be horizontal. The carriageor conveyance can be held on an incline while the one or more passengersget in position.

[0092] The track may have more than one substantially vertical loop. Thetrack may be provided with one or more generally transverse loops,whether or not it also has one or more substantially vertical loops. Thetrack may pass through more than one tunnel located before and/or afterany loop and it is not necessary that there be a tunnel at the free endof the track. It is also possible that the track has no loops ortunnels. A plurality of tracks could be located side by side.

[0093] The carriage 32 and conveyance 42 shown in FIG. 2 accord with theabove-mentioned third aspect of the invention, in that the conveyance isdesigned to separate from the carriage when the carriage stops suddenlyat the discharge point of the track. One advantage of this is that thebungy cord can be carried on the carriage. That is satisfactory wherethe carriage itself does not leave the track. As an alternative tohaving the bungy cord stored on a reel on the carriage it could insteadbe coiled on the carriage or on the back of the conveyance, or left todrop over the side of the track.

[0094] In another embodiment, the carriage may be an integral part ofthe conveyance and be designed to leave the track. In this case therewould be no shock absorber 40 at the discharge point of the track.Obviously in this embodiment the bungy cord cannot be carried in itsentirety by the carriage/conveyance. The same problem with the bungycord applies in an embodiment where there is no carriage and the bungycord is connected directly to the passenger or to a conveyance to whichthe passenger is secured. In these cases the bungy cord might be laidout alongside the track or drooped over the side of the track with thesecured end of the bungy cord secured, for example, to the dischargepoint of the track.

[0095] In another embodiment of the invention, the track could beessentially a horizontal track. In this case, springs or compressed airor bungy cords could be used to propel the passenger alone, or on aconveyance, or on a conveyance and carriage along the track to thedischarge point of the track. For example, a similar elastic cordpropulsion system could be used as in the dragster amusement ridedescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,321. Another possible propulsion systemcould use electromagnetic induction in the track, whether used alone ona horizontal track or together with gravity on an inclined track.Electromagnetic means could be used to decelerate and brake the carriageat the discharge point of the track in the embodiment where the carriageitself does not fall from the track. In this case a physical shockabsorber 40 is not necessary but could still be provided as a backupsafety feature. Magnetism or electromagnetism may also be used in anembodiment where the carriage or conveyance is without wheels or skidsand hovers above the track because of magnetic field effects.

[0096] The design and construction of the carriage 32, conveyance 42,brackets 66, reel 68 and shock absorber 40 shown in FIG. 2 can take manyother forms. It is desirable that the conveyance 42 be strong and robustbut relatively light in weight. It could take the form of a cage inwhich the passenger is secured or even a capsule. The carriage andconveyance may be of a size and shape to take more than one passenger,for example, two passengers, either side by side or one in front of theother. The conveyance may even be designed to take more than twopassengers. Of course, the greater the number of passengers the greatertheir combined weight and the greater the forces the bungy cord will besubjected to at the end of the free fall.

[0097] A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 3-10 ofthe drawings. This embodiment has many features in common with theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and like drawing reference numbers areused to denote like parts. However, the preferred embodiment has anumber of modifications and enhancements and these will be described inmore detail.

[0098] A particular feature of the preferred embodiment is that thetrack 10 is in the form of a continuous loop. This is advantageous inthat a big enough loop allows a plurality of carriage 32 to operate onthe track at the same time because all carriages travel in the samedirection. This applies even when different carriages at different partsof the track are stationary or moving at different speeds provided thatthe system is controlled to ensure that no two carriages collide. Thesystem is similar for either a “flat ground” or a “downhill” launch, themain difference being that the flat ground system requires greater powerat the start to accelerate the carriage 32 carrying the conveyance 42and passenger 52, and a more complex control system to monitor the speedof the carriage as it accelerates. The downhill version is the preferredembodiment shown in FIGS. 3-10.

[0099] The preferred embodiment uses a dual rail system for the track,that is, two parallel rails 30 with which the four flanged wheels 34 ofthe carriage engage. Variations may be introduced as required, inparticular, where the carriage is required to be inverted followingrelease of the conveyance and the vehicle must continue to move whilstupside down, and then be righted again. This particular variation isdescribed in more detail later.

[0100] The circuit provided by the loop track may conveniently beconsidered to be divided into three sections from a control point ofview. These are the “start” section 11, the“deceleration/release/inversion” section 13 which will be called justthe “release” section for short, and the “recovery” section 15. Thestart section controls the initial movement of the carriage, first up toa start position, then provides an initial boost if and as required. Itmay also be considered to include any downwardly inclined portion 18 ofthe track. The release section monitors and controls the velocity of thecarriage as it approaches the discharge point 20 where the conveyanceand passenger are discharged from the carriage. The release section thencontrols a slow movement of the carriage as it is inverted and theforces of the restraining bungy cord 70 are gradually applied. Thecarriage is then driven through a twisted section 55 of track comprisinga re-inversion spiral whereby it is righted again and waits for ahandover to the recovery section. The recovery section manages themovement of the carriage to a recovery station 53 where the carriage isstopped and the conveyance recovered and reloaded onto the carriage.When this has been done the carriage and mounted conveyance are drivento the start section again. Having these three sections allows goodcontrol and safety while, at the same time, allowing each section tooperate while the other sections are also busy. FIGS. 4-7 show moredetailed views of these sections.

[0101] The start section 11 is located at an upper horizontal section 16of the track 10 and has a start station 25. The start station has aplatform 27 adjacent to the track that serves as a waiting area forwould-be passengers. A senior operator position complete with anoperating console 31 is also provided on the platform. The operatingconsole is intended to indicate the overall system status and allowoperator control. Before the platform the start section has a parkingarea 29 for the next carriage.

[0102] When a carriage and mounted conveyance are ready at the startstation, a passenger can step on to the immobilised carriage, climb intothe padded conveyance, don a restraining harness and close any safetycatch. The conveyance may be designed to carry more than one passenger,for example, two passengers, although the following description willrefer to just the one passenger. After clearance from the senioroperator, the passenger can indicate his or her readiness and actuate astart button or lever to set the carriage in motion. As a safetyfeature, the system may require both the senior operator and thepassenger to actuate start buttons or levers simultaneously to set thecarriage in motion. A mechanical brake 33 is preferably placed acrossthe track 10 at the start position to act as a fail-safe feature in theevent that all other control is lost, for example, in the event of apower failure. This prevents the carriage from moving off without propercontrol. A suitable brake comprises a barrier raised up from the trackto prevent the carriage passing it, and requiring the proper controlsequence to be lowered to allow the carriage to proceed.

[0103] The system is preferably electronically monitored by sensors 35located at numerous points around the track to allow pinpointing ofcarriage status, positions and speed. This information is used by anindustrial grade computer (a Programmable Logic Controller or PLC) toconstantly control as much as is needed to ensure safety and properoperation. The information is displayed at two, or possibly threestations around the track, depending on the size and complexity of thesystem, and allow operator input and control as required at eachstation. The senior operator at the start station 25 will usually be the“master” and have responsibility for overall operation and safety. Forthis reason he or she will have access to all operational controls andsystem status displays. At each station, the operator there will beresponsible for final checking of safety features, including correctbungy cord stowage which is important in controlling smooth bungy cordpayout upon discharge of the conveyance from the carriage.

[0104] Each of the start, discharge, and recovery sections 11, 13 and 15preferably has its own motive means whereby the movement of the carriagethrough the section can be controlled. Each of the motive meanspreferably comprises a motorised chain traction system 37 involving adrive chain and motor-control system. More particularly, each motivemeans traction system has an electric motor 39 driving a drive chain 41by way of a gear box 43. Each drive chain comprises a long loop of chainrunning down the centre of the track where control of carriage movementis required. A mating pair of couplers 74, 75 (see FIG. 10 inparticular) is used to allow the carriage to receive driving or brakingpower from the chain drive. One coupler 74 is mounted on the undersideof the carriage. Other couplers 75 are mounted at intervals, and usuallyat regular intervals, on the respective drive chain 41. When thecarriage coupler 74 encounters a coupler 75 on the drive chain, the twocouplers link and remain linked until the path followed by the chainleads to a lowering of the chain to separate the couplings and disengagethe drive chain from the carriage. This applies whether it is thecarriage that is moving or the chain. The coupling of the chain drive tothe carriage allows complete control of vehicle movement, whetheracceleration, deceleration or constant speed, by controlling the speedof the drive chain with its associated electric motor 39. These motorsare in turn controlled by the control system and/or operators. Themotors are preferably 3-phase Variable Speed Drives (VSDs).

[0105] Should it be required, an initial acceleration boost can be givento the carriage by the motive means 37 associated with the start section11 to bring the carriage up to a predetermined speed. This is necessaryif the carriage is started on a horizontal portion of track. Otherwise,gravitational effect may be the main accelerator, this giving a verypredictable increase in speed to the carriage. Thus, either such motivemeans or gravitational effect or both provide propelling means to propela carriage towards the discharge point 20 of the track where theconveyance carried on the carriage is released and discharged from thecarriage. As shown in FIG. 3, this preferred embodiment does alsoutilise gravitational effect by way of the inclined section 18 of thetract. After the carriage carrying the conveyance and passenger hasdescended the inclined section 18, and accelerated while doing so, itmoves onto a horizontal portion 19 of the track approaching thedischarge point 20. This is the start of the discharge section 13 of thetrack.

[0106] Prior to the carriage reaching the discharge point 20, a motivemeans 45, as already described, but this one associated with thedischarge section of the track engages the moving carriage to controlits further movement through the conveyance release and discharge, thecarriage inversion and the carriage re-inversion stages. When thecarriage reaches the start of the drive chain 41 of the motive meansassociated with this section of the track and its coupler 74 coupleswith a coupler 75 of the chain, the chain is running at the correctspeed to allow that coupling to occur without unduly jerking thecarriage. Thereafter, the chain and hence the carriage may undergodeceleration. Two mechanisms are preferably used to release theconveyance and allow its discharge from the carriage. Firstly, thecontrol system monitoring the ride must be satisfied that the correctspeed and safety interlocks are in place. This allows a release cam 49to be raised from below the track. This cam operates a release mechanismon the carriage to release a latch 77 normally securing the conveyanceto the carriage. The release mechanism 76, which is shown in FIGS. 8 and9, will be described in more detail later.

[0107] In contrast with the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 where a shockabsorber 40 is used, when impacted by the carriage, to bring thecarriage to a rapid halt to allow the released conveyance to bedischarged from the carriage, the discharge is effected in a differentway in this preferred embodiment of the invention. As shown in FIGS. 3and 5, in the release section 13 of the track, the track has a generallyU-shaped nose portion 21 where it curves downwardly round under itself.Because of this downwards curvature in the track, a carriage movingalong the track undergoes a rapid change of direction commencing in theregion of the discharge point 20. By this means, the carriage is, ineffect, given a rapid deceleration in the horizontal direction. However,the conveyance which has been released from the carriage continuesmoving in the original direction and is therefore discharged from thecarriage to continue on its own trajectory. It is considered thatcompared with the use of an air-ram or similar to cause rapiddeceleration of the carriage in the horizontal direction upon impact ofthe carriage with the air-ram, the preferred arrangement imposes lessstress on the carriage, thereby prolonging its life. Another advantageis that it allows the carriage to rapidly clear the release section 13ready for further traffic.

[0108] Should the control system detect any unsafe situation prior torelease of the conveyance, the release trip is not performed and thevehicle is brought to a rapid halt.

[0109] The back of the conveyance 42 has a plurality of pegs 51 aboutwhich the bungy cord 70 is wound. An end of the bungy cored passes underthe conveyance and through a channel 92 in the deck of the carriage andis attached to the front end of the carriage. The bungy cord isdimensioned so as to restrain the conveyance when falling to prevent itfrom hitting the ground at full extension of the bungy cord. As theconveyance leaves the carriage, the pegs 51 collapse enough to allowrapid, tangle-free deployment of the bungy cord. The cord can thenunwind freely and take up the strain smoothly as it begins to beextended by the combined weight of the conveyance and passenger. Duringthis period of bungy cord payout and load uptake, the vehicle is slowlymoved around the nose 21 of the track until it is upside down andunderneath the track. This movement is controlled by the control systemand motive means combination associated with this part of the track. Itis desirable for the bungy cord anchor point on the carriage to face inthe direction of the forces acting on it as the discharged conveyancemoves outwardly and downwardly until, after the conveyance bouncing andswinging phase is over, it comes to rest again vertically with the bungycord extended by the now static load. During this phase, the carriage ismoved slowly through an “inversion” to come to rest in an upside downposition underneath a return portion 23 of the track. Once the motion ofthe conveyance has ceased, the carriage is driven towards the recoverysection 15.

[0110] While on the return portion 23 of the track and before reachingthe recovery section 15, the carriage traverses a twisted section 55 oftrack, comprising a spiral section of rail, that re-inverts thecarriage, that is, turns it the right way up again, and delivers it tothe recovery section.

[0111] At the start of the recovery section there is a recovery station53. This is a manned station with an operator to assist with recovery ofthe conveyance, allow optional exit of the passenger, and reloading ofthe conveyance on the carriage.

[0112] The recovery station 53 has a platform 57 with an operator'sconsole 31 and a davit mounted electric winch 59. A hook at the end ofthe winch cable 61 is lowered to the conveyance and attached to thebungy bridle 63 of the conveyance, then is used to raise the conveyanceto the platform, complete with passenger. The davit 65 allows theconveyance to be swung around over the carriage to be reattached to itagain.

[0113] Once the conveyance is reattached to the carriage, the passengercan undo the harness and leave the conveyance to return to the startsection 11 by way of steps 67. However, another option is for thepassenger to remain in the conveyance while the carriage and conveyanceare returned through the rest of the recovery section to the startsection.

[0114] The bungy cord 70 may be re-stowed at the recovery station 53, orjust temporarily looped until the carriage and attached conveyance reachthe start section again where re-stowing of the bungy cord may be done.In either case, the bungy cord should be re-stowed with the correcttension on the pegs 51 and the peg “tensioner” reset. This may be donebefore or after the re-mounting of the conveyance on the carriage.

[0115] After the conveyance is reattached to the carriage, the bungycord re-stowed, either temporarily or fully as the case may be, and thepassenger removed, if that is what is decided, the carriage and attachedconveyance are moved by the motive means 73 up the portion 69 of thetrack at the end of the recovery section to be returned to the startsection 11 of the track. Between these two sections of the track thereis a generally U-shaped portion 71 lying in a horizontal plane thatallows the carriage to be turned back through 180° so that it is facingthe correct way again when it reaches the start station 25.

[0116] Before the start station 25 is reached there may be a separatepreparing and checking station where the condition of the carriage,conveyance and bungy cord are checked to ensure that they are safe,clean and ready for re-use. Alternatively, the functions performed atthis station may be performed at the start station 25.

[0117] As already indicated, the control system preferably makes use ofa PLC. All of the information required for operation of the system isgathered from as many sensors 35 placed at strategic points around thetrack 10 and on operator consoles 31 as is required. This information isused to control the logic programmed into the PLC for carriage movementand safety, including any necessary safety interlocks. Information oncarriage and general apparatus status is relayed from the PLC tomonitors as required, for example, to the operator consoles 31 where itmay be displayed on a screen and/or effect visual and/or audiblesignals. The operator is able to supply inputs to the PLC such as“enable carriage number 1 to start” by means of push buttons, levers orkeyboard as provided. The PLC then controls such things as the speed ofmotors 39, and hence acceleration and braking, carriage placement (forexample, stop and start points) at all points around the track circuitwhere motive means are provided. The program for the PLC is designed andinstalled once all the parameters of the system are known and the methodof its operation has been decided.

[0118] There are preferably at least three consoles 31 which displayinformation and receive control orders from the operators. For example,there is one at the start station 25, one at the recovery station 53 anda third most likely at a manager's office. Each console will have onlythose controls necessary for that station's functions, but preferably beable to monitor activity elsewhere in the system. It is possible thatthe manager's console may have no controls but it may have additionalstatistical information provided such as the number of rides done dailyand the number of rides during a particular period of use.

[0119] The conveyance release mechanism 76 used to secure the conveyanceon the carriage but allow its release when actuated is showndiagrammatically in FIGS. 8 and 9. Extensions from the base 44 of theconveyance are locked into channels 78 in the deck of the carriage andinto recesses 79 at the rear of the carriage by means of a pivotal latch77 which engages the base frame 42 a of the conveyance at its front end.The latch is connected to a pivotal release lever 80 by a release leverconnecting arm 89. The free end of the release lever is disposed belowthe carriage. The construction and arrangement of these components plusthe effect of a release mechanism spring 90 connected between thecarriage and the latch means that the latch 77 operates as anover-centre locking mechanism whereby the latch is moved positively to alocking position (shown in solid lines in FIG. 9) or to a releaseposition (shown in dashed outline in FIG. 9) depending on the positionof the release lever 80. When the release lever is operated, the latchdisengages from the conveyance which is then free to move off thecarriage, but only in a forwards and upwards direction relative to thecarriage, this being the desired direction of movement for theconveyance when discharged. As an alternative to the mechanical releasemechanism 76, a solenoid 91 can be provided to effect movement of thelatch 77. The extensions from the base 44 of the conveyance that lockinto the channels 78 in the deck of the carriage could ride on wheels orrollers mounted either on the extensions or in the channels.

[0120] A cam 49 is mounted between the rails of the track at thedischarge point 20. In other words, it is so placed that the releaseoccurs at the correct time to allow the conveyance to separate from thecarriage just as the carriage undergoes a significant horizontalcomponent of deceleration, this occurring, at least in part, as aconsequence of the carriage moving onto and around the curved section 21of the track. The motive means associated with this part of the trackmay also be used to effect a deceleration of the carriage. Instead of asingle cam 49, there may be a series of cams spaced along the track nearthe discharge point 20, any one of which may be raised by the controlsystem as required, or not raised at all should there by a problemwhereby it may not be safe for the conveyance to be discharged.

[0121] It is desirable that the conveyance 42 is strong and light. Itmay be built for one or two passengers and is shaped and padded to suitthe number of passengers for which it is designed. Harnesses within theconveyance are used to restrain the passengers to ensure that they donot fall out. The conveyance may be substantially enclosed as a capsuleor, alternatively, it may be relatively open, especially about the upperbody of any passenger. The bungy cord 17 may be attached to theconveyance by a bridle 63 in order that the conveyance maintains muchthe same attitude throughout its flight, preferably so that anypassenger has his or her head in a generally upright position.

[0122] The carriage 32 will generally be more robustly constructed.Because the carriage, in this preferred embodiment of the invention,passes around the vertically curved section 21 of track to be located inan upside down position underneath the track prior to re-inversion ofthe carriage, it is necessary to have a suitable wheel and trackcombination to retain the carriage in engagement with the track. Thereare two preferred wheel and track combinations. The first is afour-wheel carriage where the wheels mostly ride on top of a single pairof rails. To accommodate the fact that the carriage is to be inverted,another set of rails 82 is provided on the “top” side of the wheels toretain the carriage in the inverted position. This may be considered tobe a “quad track” section. The second combination involves the use of aneight wheel configuration for the carriage, with the eight wheelsarranged in four pairs with the pairs set to ride on top of and under arail. This arrangement retains the carriage on the rails whether in anupright or inverted position because each rail of the pair of rails issandwiched between the two wheels of each pair of wheels at the sameside of the track. While this arrangement simplifies the construction ofthe rails of the track it leads to a more complex and heavy carriage.Known roller coaster technology may be used in the design andconstruction of the carriage, including its wheels, and the track.

[0123] In a modification of this preferred embodiment, the elastic tieis not attached to a conveyance but is attached to the passenger. Inthis case the passenger may still sit on a conveyance on the carriageduring the ride to the discharge point but the conveyance could besmaller and lighter. The conveyance could comprise a mat or cushion orsled-like tray slidable forwardly off the carriage when the carriageundergoes a significant horizontal component of deceleration at thedischarge point. The conveyance could be discharged to fall freely,though then it should be made of a material to minimise risk of injuryto the separately falling passenger should they come into contact.Alternatively, the conveyance could be attached to the passenger. It iseven possible for a passenger to be discharged from a preferably smoothdeck of the carriage without using a conveyance at all. In either ofthese embodiments it is possible for the secured end of the bungy cordto be attached to other than the carriage, for example, to the side ofthe track at or below the discharge point.

[0124] Referring now to FIG. 11, this shows a simplified drawing ofanother embodiment of the invention. According to this embodiment, thetrack 10 comprises a cable. The cable is shown attached to posts 22 atits ends and suspended across a ravine 83 so that it slopes from one endtowards the other. The cable could instead be attached to other supportsat one or both ends, for example, to bridges, buildings, trees orcliffs. A traveller 84 is freely movable along the cable to a stop 85attached to the cable before the lower end. A chair 86 in which apassenger 87 is secured is suspended below the traveller by a releasablecatch 88. A bungy cord 70 is attached between the traveller and the topof the chair. As the traveller moves from the upper end of the cable tothe stop 85 it, and therefore the chair and passenger, have asignificant horizontal component of motion. When the traveller strikesthe stop the catch releases the chair for it and its passenger to fall.As with the other embodiments of the invention that have been described,the passenger experiences a combined bouncing and swinging motion. Awinch 94 and winch line 93 may be used to return the traveller to thestart. Another winch and winch line (not shown) may be used to retrievethe chair. This second winch could be mounted on the traveller. In amodification the cable could be replaced by a rail or by a beam carryinga rail for the traveller.

[0125] The apparatus of the present invention is designed to provide athrilling ride in that in at least preferred embodiments it combineselements of a roller coaster ride and a bungy jump and may have otherenhancements. More particularly, at the end of the free fall the atleast one passenger experiences a bouncing combined with a swingingmotion. The ride is not over as quickly as a conventional bungy jump andcan provide more than the one adrenalin “buzz” that is experienced bythe bungy jumper.

1. Apparatus for an amusement ride and fall, the apparatus comprising: atrack having a discharge point, the track being positioned to provide adrop below the discharge point; a carriage for a passenger which can beconveyed along the track towards the discharge point; propelling meansfor propelling the carriage along the track towards the discharge point;means to prevent the carriage from being discharged from the track atthe discharge point; decelerating means to impart a horizontal componentof deceleration to the carriage at/or immediately before the dischargepoint whereby upon the carriage being given a sufficiently rapidhorizontal component of deceleration by the decelerating means thepassenger separates from the carriage to be discharged with a horizontalcomponent of motion from the discharge point of the track to drop in afreefall therefrom; and an elastic tie having a secured first end and afree second end directly or indirectly connected or connectable to thepassenger, which tie limits the free fall of the connected passengerand, together with the horizontal component of motion imparted to thepassenger, causes the passenger to bounce and swing for a period of timeat the end of the free fall.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 whereinthe track comprises a chute or slide along which the passenger can slideon the carriage.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the carriagecomprises a sled designed to slide along the track, the track havinggrooves in which runners of the sled run to keep the sled aligned withthe track.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the carriagecomprises a wheeled vehicle upon which at least one passenger can ride.5. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the track comprises rails withwhich the wheels of the vehicle engage to keep the vehicle aligned withthe track.
 6. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claimsincluding a conveyance for the passenger, mountable on a separable fromthe carriage whereby the conveyance can be conveyed along the track onthe carriage and upon the carriage being given a sufficiently rapidhorizontal component of deceleration by the decelerating means theconveyance and the passenger separate from the carriage to be dischargedfrom the discharge point.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 6 furthercomprising securing means for securing the passenger to the conveyance.8. Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the free second end of theelastic tie is connected or connectable to the conveyance.
 9. Apparatusaccording to claim 8 wherein the conveyance is selected from the groupconsisting of a sheet of material, a mat, a cushion, and a sled. 10.Apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the free second end of theelastic tie is connected or connectable to the passenger and theconveyance is selected from the group consisting of the passenger's ownclothing, a sheet of material, a mat, a cushion, and a sled. 11.Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the free second end of theelastic tie is connected or connectable to the passenger, the conveyanceis selected from the group consisting of a sheet of material, a mat anda cushion, and the conveyance is not secured to the passenger and istherefore allowed to fall freely from the discharge point of the track.12. An apparatus for an amusement ride and fall, the apparatuscomprising: a track having a discharge point, the track being positionedto provide a drop below the discharge point; a carriage which can becarried along the track towards the discharge point of the track;propelling means for propelling the carriage along the track towards thedischarge point; a stop to stop the carriage from being discharged fromthe track at the discharge point; a conveyance for a passenger, whichconveyance is mountable on and separable from the carriage whereby theconveyance can be conveyed along the track on the carriage and upon thecarriage being stopped by the stop the conveyance separates from thecarriage to be discharged with a horizontal component of motion from thedischarge point of the track to drop in a free fall therefrom; securingmeans for securing the passenger to the conveyance; and an elastic tiehaving a secured first end and a free second end connected orconnectable to the conveyance, which tie limits the free fall of theconnected conveyance and, together with the horizontal component ofmotion imparted to the conveyance, causes the conveyance to bounce andswing for a period of time at the end of its free fall.
 13. Apparatusaccording to claim 12 wherein the track comprises a chute or slide alongwhich the passenger can slide on the carriage mounted conveyance. 14.Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the carriage comprises a sleddesigned to slide along the track, the track having grooves in whichrunners of the sled run to keep the sled aligned with the track. 15.Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the carriage comprises a wheeledvehicle.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the track comprisesrails with which the wheels of the vehicle engage to keep the vehiclealigned with the track.
 17. Apparatus according to any one of claims12-16 wherein the conveyance is selected from the group consisting of asheet of material, a mat, a cushion, and a sled-like conveyance. 18.Apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the conveyance is a sled-likeconveyance designed to slide or roll on the carriage, the carriagehaving grooves in which runner or wheels of the sled-like conveyance runto keep it aligned with the carriage and hence with the track as itseparates from the carriage to be discharged from the track. 19.Apparatus according to any one of claims 12-18 wherein the secured endof the elastic tie is secured to the carriage.
 20. Apparatus accordingto any one of the preceding claims wherein the discharge point is at anend of the track.
 21. Apparatus according to any one of the precedingclaims wherein the propelling means comprises at least a section of thetrack having an incline downwards towards the discharge point of thetrack.
 22. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claimswherein at the discharge point the track is disposed at an angleproviding a substantial degree of horizontal motion to a passenger orconveyance discharged from the track at the discharge point. 23.Apparatus according to claim 22 wherein at the discharge point the trackis substantially horizontal.
 24. Apparatus according to any one of thepreceding claims wherein the track has at least one substantiallyvertical loop in it and/or at least one substantially transverse loop init.
 25. Apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims whereinat least a section of the track passes through a tunnel.
 26. Apparatusaccording to claim 25 wherein a tunnel is located at the discharge pointof the track.
 27. An apparatus for an amusement ride and fall, theapparatus comprising: a track having a discharge point, the track beingpositioned to provide a drop below the discharge point; a carriage whichcan be carried along the track towards the discharge point of the track;propelling means for propelling the carriage along the track towards thedischarge point; means to prevent the carriage from being dischargedfrom the track at the discharge point; decelerating means to impart ahorizontal component of deceleration to the carriage at/or immediatelybefore the discharge point; a conveyance for a passenger, whichconveyance is mountable on and separable from the carriage whereby theconveyance can be conveyed along the track on the carriage and upon thecarriage being given a sufficiently rapid horizontal component ofdeceleration by the decelerating means the conveyance separates from thecarriage to be discharged with a horizontal component of motion from thedischarge point of the track to drop in a free fall therefrom; securingmeans for securing the passenger to the conveyance; and an elastic tiehaving a secured first end and a free second end connected orconnectable to the conveyance, which tie limits the free fall of theconnected conveyance and, together with the horizontal component ofmotion imparted to the conveyance, causes the conveyance to bounce andswing for a period of time at the end of its free fall.
 28. An apparatusfor an amusement ride and fall, the apparatus comprising: a track havinga discharge point, the track being positioned to provide a drop belowthe discharge point; a carriage which can be carried along the tracktowards the discharge point of the track; propelling means forpropelling the carriage along the track towards the discharge point;means to prevent the carriage from being discharged from the track atthe discharge point; decelerating means to impart a horizontal componentof deceleration to the carriage at/or immediately before the dischargepoint; a conveyance for a passenger, which conveyance is mountable onand separable from the carriage whereby the conveyance can be conveyedalong the track on the carriage and upon the carriage being given asufficiently rapid horizontal component of deceleration by thedecelerating means the conveyance with the passenger separates from thecarriage to be discharged with a horizontal component of motion from thedischarge point of the track to drop in a free fall thereform;optionally, securing means for securing the passenger to the conveyance;and an elastic tie having a secured first end and a free second endconnected or connectable to the passenger, which tie limits the freefall of the connected passenger and, together with the horizontalcomponent of motion imparted to the conveyance, causes the passenger tobounce and swing for a period of time at the end of its free fall. 29.Apparatus according to claim 27 or 28 wherein the track comprises achute or slide along which the passenger can slide on the carriagemounted conveyance.
 30. Apparatus according to claim 29 wherein thecarriage comprises a sled designed to slide along the track, the trackhaving grooves in which runners of the sled run to keep the sled alignedwith the track.
 31. Apparatus according to claim 27 or 28 wherein thecarriage comprises a wheeled vehicle.
 32. Apparatus according to claim31 wherein the track comprises rails with which the wheels of thevehicle engage to keep the vehicle aligned with the track.
 33. Apparatusaccording to any one of claims 27-32 wherein the conveyance is selectedfrom the group consisting of a sheet of material, a mat, a cushion, asled-like conveyance and a capsule.
 34. Apparatus according to claim 33wherein the conveyance is a sled-like conveyance or a capsule designedto slide or roll on the carriage, the carriage having grooves in whichrunners or wheels of the conveyance run to keep it aligned with thecarriage and hence with the track as it separates from the carriage tobe discharged from the track.
 35. Apparatus according to any one ofclaims 27-34 wherein the secured end of the elastic tie is secured tothe carriage.
 36. Apparatus according to claim 27, 28, 31 or 32 whereinimmediately before the discharge point the track is disposed at an angleproviding a substantial degree of horizontal motion to the conveyanceand passenger discharged from the track at the discharge point. 37.Apparatus according to claim 36 wherein immediately before the dischargepoint the track is substantially horizontal.
 38. Apparatus according toclaim 36 or 37 wherein the decelerating means comprises a sufficientlysharp downwards curve in the track at the discharge point whereby as thecarriage passes around the curve its sudden change of direction causes asufficient horizontal component of deceleration to enable the dischargeof the conveyance from the carriage and hence from the track. 39.Apparatus according to claim 31 wherein the curve in the track continuesaround to a return portion of the track so that after passing around thecurve the carriage is at least initially in an upside down position onthe return portion of the track.
 40. Apparatus according to claim 39wherein the return portion of the track has carriage righting means toturn the carriage right side up again.
 41. Apparatus according to claim40 wherein the carriage righting means comprises a twisted section inthe return portion of the track whereby the carriage is righted again asit passes through the twisted section.
 42. Apparatus according to anyone of claims 39-41 wherein a conveyance recovery means is associatedwith the return portion of the track whereby the discharged and fallenconveyance can be raised to the return portion of the track to beremounted on the carriage.
 43. Apparatus according to any one of claims27, 28 and 36-42 further comprising motive means associated with thetrack whereby the motive means can or does interact with the carriage toenable the carriage to be moved in a controllable way along at least aportion of the track.
 44. Apparatus according to claim 43 wherein aplurality of motive means are associated with the track, each motivemeans controlling the movement of the carriage along a different portionof the track.
 45. Apparatus according to claim 43 or 44 wherein there isa start motive means at a start portion of the track to initiatemovement of the carriage along the track.
 46. Apparatus according toclaim 45 wherein the start motive means comprises the propelling means.47. Apparatus according to any one of claims 43-46 wherein there is adecelerating motive means in the region of the discharge point of thetrack, which decelerating motive means may provide or be part of saiddecelerating means for enabling the conveyance to be discharged from thecarriage and hence from the track.
 48. Apparatus according to any one ofclaims 43-47 wherein there is a return motive means associated with areturn portion of the track to return the carriage to or near a startposition.
 49. Apparatus according to any one of claims 27-48 wherein thetrack comprises a continuous loop.
 50. Apparatus according to any one ofclaims 27-49 wherein the propelling means comprises at least a sectionof the track having an incline downwards towards the discharge point ofthe track.
 51. Apparatus according to any one of claims 27-50 whereinthe track has at least one substantially vertical loop in it and/or atleast one substantially transverse loop in it.
 52. Apparatus accordingto any one of claims 27-51 wherein at least a section of the trackpasses through a tunnel.
 53. Apparatus according to claim 52 wherein atunnel is located at the discharge point of the track.
 54. Apparatusaccording to any one of claims 27-38 wherein the discharge point is atan end of the track.
 55. Apparatus according to claim 19 or 35 whereinthe whole of the elastic tie is carried on the carriage and optionallyon the conveyance up to the discharge of the conveyance from thecarriage.